Apparatus for washing bottles and glasses.



N0. 852,670. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. M. MULLER'.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING BOTTLES A'ND GLASSES APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

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PATENTBD MAY 7, 1907.

' M MULLER.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING BOTTLES AND GLASSES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

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No. 852,670. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

M. MULLER;

APPARATUS FOR WASHING BOTTLES AND GLASSES.

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MAX MULLER, OF REMSOHEID-HASTEN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING BOTTLES AND GLASSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed March 23, 1906. Serial No. 307,535.

To all whom, it Wary concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX MiiLLnR, a citizen of Germany, residing at Remscheid-Hasten, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for W'ashing Bottles and Glasses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for cleaning bottles, glasses, etc., by means of brushes which are rotated by the action of the cleaning water that enters the apparatus under pressure. The apparatus is so constructed that the rotating brushes are supported in a simple and reliable manner, while the apparatus may be readily adapted for cleaning receptacles of different sizes.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through'my improved apparatus for cleaning bottles; Fig. 2 a cross section on line-22, Fig. 1; Fig. 2 a detail of the bottle-supporting plate; Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a modification of the apparatus; Fig. 4 a similar section through a further modification; Fig. 5 a similar section through a still further modification; Fig. 6 a similar section through another modification; Fig. 7 a cross section on line AB, Fig. 6, Fig. 8 a cross section on line CD, Fig; 6, Fig. 9 a cross section on on line 99. Fig. 3; Fig. 10 a detail of the bottle-supporting means, and Fig. 11 a cross section on line EF, Fig. 10.

From a cup-shaped base 23, extends upwardly a tubular shell 41, on which may be supported an annular lid 25. Within shell 41 extends an axially movable hollow spindle 3, that terminates on top in a solid stem 4.

The latter carries the brushes 45 designed to' clean the interior of a bottle. Spindle 3 is firmly secured at its lower end to an axially displaceable, horizontal turbine wheel-6 arranged within cup 23. Wheel 6 is, by means of a ball bearing, connected. to a vertically reciprocating sleeve 10. In order to permit a ready replacement of the ball hearing, when worn, I provide the hub of wheel 6 with an exchangeable ring 19 having an inner circumferential ball race 20. Sleeve 10 carries a pair of spaced rings 15 and 16 that jointly form a ball race 18, ring 15 being held in position by a nut 17 screwed upon sleeve 10. The lower end of sleeve 10 surrounds a tube 11. tapped into the bottom of cup 23 and provided with an inner valve seat 1. The latter is adapted to be engaged by a valve 2 forming part of a hollow stem 9, that is firmly secured at its upper end to sleeve 10. Stem 9 passes through the bore of tube 11 and is provided above valve'2 with perforations 13 opening into the bore of stem 9. In order to prevent stem 9 and sleeve 10 from participating in the rotation of the turbine 6, sleeve 10 is provided at its lower end with studs or projections 12 engaging corresponding openings in fixed tube 11.

Wheel 6 is adapted to be rotated by a jet of water entering by pipe 43 through opening 7 and directed against the blades of such wheel. From pipe 43 a branch 44 leads to the valvechamber formed within tube 11 below seat- 1. From turbine wheel 6 extends upwardly a drum 3, contained within shell 41 and provided with longitudinal grooves 80 for the reception of posts 81 which are secured to turbine-wheel 6. Posts 81 carry the inwardly projecting brushes 42 for cleaning the exterior of a bottle. WVithin drum 8 is vertically adjustable a plate or support 5, held to the drum by screws 24 tapped into plate 5, and passing through slots of drum 8. To plate 5 are secured brushes 46 adapted to clean the head and stopper of a bottle. Plate 5, is furthermore provided with a cone cap 35 adapted to be engaged by the head of the bottle to be cleaned. In order to reduce friction between the rotating plate 5 and the stationary bottle, while being washed, in manner hereinafter described, a ball bearing is provided between cap 35 and plate 5.

Then water is admitted through pipe 43 into cup 23, wheel 6, together with the parts carrying the outer brushes, the inner brushes and the head brushes, will be rotated by the action of such inflowing water. The bottle to be cleaned. is now introduced through the opening of lid 25, until its head becomes seated upon cap 35. By still further depressing the bottle, plate 5, wheel 6, stem 9 and sleeve 10, will be lowered against the action of a spring 1.4 interposed between sleeve 10 and tube 11, while the brushes continue to rotate. The downward movement of stem 9 will cause valve 2 to be opened, so that water may flow from pipe 44 through stem 9 and hollow spindle 3, to be finally discharged into the interior of the bottle. The rotation of wheel 6 is also utilized for elevating the cleansing wator for the exterior of the bottle from the bottom of cup 23. For this purpose a spiral tube 21 is provided, which opens into the top ICC of drum 8. The open lower end 22 of this tube is so arranged, that during the rapid rotation of wheel 6, water is forced into mouth 22 and then raised to be discharged into drum 8. It will be seen that by adjusting the height of plate 5, the apparatus may be set to bottles of different heights.

In Fig. 3, a modification of the means for adjusting plate 5, is shown. To plate are pivoted a pair of diametrically opposite racks 26, adapted to engage noses 31 of keepers 38 secured to drum 8. Each rack 26 is normally held in engagement with nose 31 by means of a spring 28. Racks 26 are furthermore adapted to be engaged by the forked and beveled ends of a lever 27 partly embracing drum 8. Lever 27 turns on a pin 29 received within aslot of lever 27, so as to permit a slight reciprocating movement of the lever. If plate 5 is to be raised, lever 27 is brought into engagement with teeth of racks 26 below noses 31. Lever 27 is then tilted by its handle to raise racks 26 and plate 5. After the handle is released, springs 28 press racks 26 into engagement with noses 31, the slot 30 permitting a corresponding movement of lever 27.

In Fig. 4, spindle 3 is threaded to engage a correspondingly threaded bore of plate 5. By rotating spindle 3, the elevation of plate 5 may be readily adjusted.

In Fig. 5, drum 8, is provided with a lower flange 8 received within an annular groove formed between wheel 6 and a stepped ring 6 secured to such Wheel. Drum 8"is further provided with a screw thread 8 engaged by the threaded rim of plate 5 which in turn by groove and 'feathen or other suitable means, is connected to hollow spindle 3. The adjustment between flange 8 and wheel 6, is such that drum 8 is taken along by friction while a bottle is being cleaned. In rotating drum 8 by hand, while wheel 6 is arrested, the elevation'of plate 5 may be adjusted.

In the modification shown in Figs. 68, cap 35 is rotatably mounted upon a threaded sleeve 33, adapted to be vertically adjusted inlet valve controlled by the sleeve, and abrush having a tubular stem which is carried by the turbine and communicates with the sleeve, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable turbine, with avertically movable rotatable plate operatively connected thereto, head brushes carried by the plate, means for adjusting the elevation of the plate above the turbine, an axially movable non-rotatable sleeve, a ball bearing between turbine and sleeve, means for supplying water to the sleeve, an inlet valve controlled by the sleeve,

and a tubular, central brush communicating with the sleeve, substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatus. of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable turbine, with a vertically movable rotatable plate operatively connected thereto, head brushes carried by the plate means for adjusting the elevation of the plate above the turbine, an axially movable non-rotatable sleeve, means for supplying water to the sleeve, a tubular central brush communicating with the sleeve, a cap above the plate, and a ball bearing interposed-between cap and plate, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at Dusseldorf, Germany, this fifteenth day of February, 1906.

MAX MULLER.

Witnesses WILLIAM ESSENWEIN, PETER LIEBER. 

